Manual of Office and Field Administration of an Air Service Flying School With Special Reference to Flying Department
San Antonio, Texas: United States Air Service, 1919. Quarto, original printed titling wrappers, 106, [viii] pp., with numerous integral maps, illustrations and diagrams throughout. Wrappers a little rubbed and chipped, title page creased, internally excellent. Comprehensive handbook for United States Air Service administrative staff, authored by officers of Brooks Training Field at San Antonio in Texas. Contains much detail of day-to-day logistics and organisation, as well as record-keeping, how to handle accidents, keeping the cadets in-line during primary instruction, communication with other branches of the military, control tower protocols, and so forth.
In the preface, Colonel Caldwell explains that 'at the beginning of the war there was not a system or definite plan of organisation that could be put into effect at any of the many new flying fields. Consequently a vast amount of chaos and confusion resulted before the Air Service of the United States reached its present efficient status. It is believed that, if a manual of this nature had been available at the beginning of the war, a great deal of time and expense would have been saved and the number of fatalities and accidents seriously lessened'. Not included in Noffsinger's Bibliography of World War I Aviation, or in Myron Smith. Item #2232
Price (AUD): $425.00